Frazier Moss collection

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: RG-0000-0022

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Frazier Moss Collection dates from 1977 to 1987 and contains ten audio recordings of The Frazier Moss String-Band, in addition to other various players. . The Frazier Moss Collection also contains a small number of newspaper articles, programs, and photographs ranging from 1984-1991.

Dates

1977 - 1991

Biographical / Historical

Frazier Moss (September 11, 1910 to October 27, 1998) was a renowned fiddler from the Upper Cumberland area of Tennessee. Moss was born in Nashville, but spent the majority of his life in Cookeville. Moss worked a full-time job as a carpenter and playing fiddle was only a hobby. Even though Moss played the fiddle as a hobby, he was good enough to earn the respect of country/bluegrass superstars Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, and Dottie West. Acuff used to call on Moss to play for him backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. West at one point convinced Moss to pick up the fiddle again after having not played for five years. Moss was the winner of several prominent fiddling competitions, including the National Fiddling Championships, Southeast Fiddling Championship, and the Tennessee Valley Old Timers’ Association Championship. Frazier Moss played in a hard and fast swinging style, and is credited with being one of the first musicians to bring the Texas long-bow style to Tennessee.